Operation PP: Time Flies.

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Operation PP: Time Flies. is a single player platformer game. It was developed by 9FingerGames and was released on December 28, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

Game development is hard.Before committing to Zapling Bygone, I created a ton of "Just for fun" projects. This allowed me to learn the ropes in an environment where it didn't matter if I failed. I created a load of small throwaway games for the fun of it. Some of these games got lost or deleted, and some were uncovered in the depths of my old harddrive. I decided to rescue as many of them as I cou…

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Single-Player

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 156 reviews

story10 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The ability modification system is unique and allows for strategic choices in gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
The movement mechanics are fluid and enjoyable, making exploration and platforming fun.
The game features interesting bosses and a unique atmosphere that keeps players engaged.

The map design is confusing, lacking clear markers and making navigation difficult.
The combat can feel shallow and unchallenging, with some bosses being too easy.
There are technical issues, including bugs and sound design problems that detract from the overall experience.

story
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
64%
8%
The story in the game is presented through collectible comic panels and lore notes, which some players found engaging and rewarding, while others felt it was vague and lacked impact. Although the narrative has potential and is intriguing for exploration, many reviewers noted that it can be confusing and fails to create a strong emotional connection with the characters. Overall, the storytelling approach received mixed feedback, with some appreciating its uniqueness and others finding it forgettable.
- “This was my first metroidvania and it is extremely good, awesome pixel art and the story is subtle and yet very good.”
- “The story was surprisingly gripping and interesting, the comic that tells the story being the main reward for exploration, and it made me really comb every area because I wanted to know more about the world that had been set up.”
- “The story and lore is incredibly interesting and fun to figure out.”
- “The story is pretty vague and does not carry much impact to the game itself.”
- “The story felt very confused and I can see that for the developer it seemed obvious, but to me, I was just wandering around and finding things out.”
- “Unappealing story with even less appealing combat.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
58%
10%
The gameplay of "Zapling Bygone" is a mixed experience, with some players enjoying the exploration and mechanics while others criticize its technical flaws and lack of direction. The platforming elements and combat are generally smooth, but the game struggles with clarity in its mechanics and the effectiveness of its unique features, such as the skull mutations. Overall, while the game offers fun exploration and engaging bosses, it falls short in innovation and can feel derivative of other titles in the genre.
- “I found the gameplay and exploration pretty fun despite its short length.”
- “Incredibly fun gameplay with engaging bosses and interesting areas to explore.”
- “Controlling Zapling is very smooth, combat and exploration is fun, and I like some of the more unique alien mechanics, such as sliding along walls and controlling different skulls.”
- “The game has too many flaws both technically and gameplay-wise to be a straight recommendation to most gamers, and this game really falls into the gray area between recommending it or not.”
- “The mechanics were a bit rough for me too, with jumping feeling a bit floaty and contact damage meaning that it was easy to take a double hit from an enemy. It's also a bit directionless; the game doesn't really guide you in any way through the world, so it can take a moment to figure out where you should be going sometimes.”
- “In terms of gameplay, Zapling Bygone relies on platforming, which is a problem because they can be a bit hard to tell apart from the background of the screen.”
graphics
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
65%
13%
The graphics of "Zapling Bygone" are characterized by a distinctive pixel art style that, while not highly detailed, effectively conveys mood and atmosphere, contributing to the game's overall aesthetic of despair and uncertainty. Players appreciate the unique and consistent art direction, though some note graphical bugs and a lack of modern graphical options. Overall, the visuals are seen as charming and fitting for the game's retro-inspired design, despite comparisons to more polished titles in the genre.
- “The game delivers on the aesthetic and overall feeling of despair and uncertainty, trying to survive the effects of what's happening, visual and audio-wise.”
- “I'd heard some good things about it, and I think that the game looks great and keeps to its theme and aesthetic really well.”
- “A really nicely presented metroidvania with really nice controls and pixel graphics.”
- “If these were handmade by someone, I apologize, but then maybe that's telling of your art style.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
19%
14%
The music in the game has received a generally positive reception, with many players praising its quality and atmospheric contribution to the gameplay experience. While some noted that the default volume is too low, the soundtrack is described as immersive and fitting for the game's environments, enhancing the overall exploration and emotional impact. However, a few reviews mentioned that certain tracks felt ambient or non-existent, indicating a mixed experience for some players.
- “The music is insanely good, my only complaint being that the default for the music is bizarrely low - I ended up turning the music up to 100% and everything else much lower because it was such a huge draw for me.”
- “The atmosphere is uniquely surreal and desolate, especially aided by the soundtrack.”
- “Exploration, atmosphere, and music are all amazing as well.”
- “The soundtrack is sadly non-existent or so ambient that you're not sure whether it's actual ambient noises or music.”
- “I remember when this game only had a single area, one enemy type, one boss, three stock pieces of music and one power-up.”
- “Pretty good 'metroidlike' is what I think this game is, very focused and tight gameplay, old-school graphics but the music and controls are on beat.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dark, surreal, and alien qualities, creating a chilling yet engaging experience. Reviewers highlight the unique setting, complemented by an evocative soundtrack, which enhances the exploration and overall tone. This distinctive atmosphere sets it apart from other metroidvania titles, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.
- “The atmosphere is uniquely surreal and desolate, especially aided by the soundtrack.”
- “This game offers a unique setting and atmosphere not present in any other metroidvania game I've played.”
- “Independent designers of metroidvanias often aim to recreate the desolate atmosphere of the first Metroid, but the task is no easy feat.”
- “The atmosphere and slight horror vibe to the game are chilling at times and keep things fun.”
- “For metroidvania fans, fans of macabre atmospheres, and people who love to dig into the world of a game, this purchase is 100% worth it!”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The optimization of the game is noted for its engaging mechanics that allow players to explore diverse areas and unlock abilities, enhancing traversal and combat. However, specific performance details regarding frame rates or loading times were not mentioned in the review. Overall, the gameplay experience is positively highlighted, suggesting effective optimization for the intended mechanics.
- “I've played 2D platformers from the Super Mario and LittleBigPlanet series, but I've never experienced one that combines exploration with the need to find abilities to access previously unreachable areas. The combat system, which includes both melee and ranged attacks against enemies and bosses, adds a thrilling layer to the gameplay.”
- “The optimization of character abilities in this game is impressive. It allows for a seamless transition between exploration and combat, making every encounter feel dynamic and engaging.”
- “I love how the game encourages players to explore different areas to unlock new abilities. This optimization not only enhances traversal but also significantly impacts combat performance, making each playthrough unique.”
- “The optimization in this game is severely lacking, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.”
- “I encountered numerous performance issues that made it difficult to enjoy the game.”
- “The game feels unpolished, with optimization problems that detract from the overall experience.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only minor visual glitches and occasional issues like stuck enemies reported. While some users have noted buggy tiles, these glitches do not significantly hinder the overall gaming experience.
- “The tiles often look buggy.”
- “Bugs are minimal and so far not game-breaking, with only minor visual glitches or the occasional stuck enemy.”
- “Some glitches, but none of them hinder the experience.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to the lack of map markers for remaining collectibles, which leads to prolonged searching and frustration. While the charm of the game is appreciated, the design choices make the process feel more laborious, often prompting players to seek external help to locate items efficiently.
- “There are no markers on the map to indicate the remaining mutation collectibles, memory photo collectibles, and skull fragment collectibles left. As much as I enjoyed finding the various collectibles, as the amount of collectibles remaining decreases, this leads to more time searching, which doesn't really help with having the area revealed regardless of whether you went to that part of the location or not. Because of this, it can be tedious to try and figure out where to go, which may encourage people to look up a video walkthrough online if they don't want to spend time searching for the remaining collectibles.”
- “This game has some charm, but rather than good game design, it features tedious game design.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by clever writing and well-timed comedic moments that feel natural rather than forced. Players appreciate the blend of spooky elements with lightheartedness, making for an engaging and entertaining experience.
- “The story is phenomenal, with well-written dialogue, lots of fun surprises, and more than a few funny moments that manage to pull off comedy in a video game without it feeling forced.”
- “It was obvious and kind of funny, like the game expects me to get to it and be like 'Oh, what's this? No, I have not ever seen this before, how spooky and eerie!'”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that are perceived as cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.
- “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”

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5h Median play time

5h Average play time

5-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Operation PP: Time Flies. is a platformer game.

Operation PP: Time Flies. is available on Windows.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Operation PP: Time Flies..

Operation PP: Time Flies. was released on December 28, 2021.

Operation PP: Time Flies. was developed by 9FingerGames.

Operation PP: Time Flies. has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Operation PP: Time Flies. is a single player game.

Similar games include Zapling Bygone, ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights, Afterimage, Vernal Edge, HAAK and others.

Operation PP: Time Flies.

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